Sport

Bradford City legend Bobby Campbell set to appear in court

Bradford City soccer legend Bobby Campbell and his wife are to appear in court after being charged with fraud.

Campbell, 57 – the club’s all-time leading goalscorer – and Paula Campbell, 56, were charged yesterday after answering bail following allegations of fraud at the club where they worked.

The star, who scored a record 137 goals for the club, was arrested last year with his wife over allegations of fraud at the working men’s club where he worked as a steward. The couple were released on bail for further inquiries to take place.

Their arrest followed a complaint of fraud at Lindley WMC in Huddersfield.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said yesterday: “A man and woman will appear before Kirklees Magistrates’ Court later this month charged with fraud by abuse of position.

“Robert Campbell, 57, and Paula Campbell, 56, from Lindley, will appear before Kirklees magistrates on March 28 after being charged with three counts each of the offence.

“The charges relate to allegations of fraud at a Working Mens Club on Brian Street, Lindley.”

Police were contacted in July last year by an individual at the club to report a potential fraud offence at the premises.

Following a meeting between the complainant and the police, during which officers took details of the allegations, a police spokesman said they were “treating the reported matter as an offence of fraud” and inquiries were ongoing.

Campbell is understood to have been dismissed by the club, where he had worked for 25 years, last June.

The former Northern Ireland international footballer previously described some of the allegations against him as petty and others as “blatant lies”.

The big striker played for a clutch of clubs, including Aston Villa, Sheffield United and Huddersfield Town, before joining City in 1979. He was the leading scorer for City every season during two spells over seven years at Valley Parade, and his goals helped the club to two promotions, in 1982 and 1985, playing alongside other legends such as Stuart McCall and John Hendrie.

In 2012, more than 300 fans flocked to Valley Parade to pay tribute to Campbell at the launch of a book about his career, They Don’t Make Them Like Him Any More, written by long-time City supporter Paul Firth.

He played twice for Northern Ireland, in the 1982 Home Internationals, and was selected for the international squad for that year’s World Cup in Spain, but did not make an appearance.